For anyone concerned for our future generations, 'Testimony for Earth' is a must read.
Review by Henry S. Carey
Groton, Connecticut
Environmentalists and ecologists have for years been warning us of the growing problem of climate change, and have been warning us of the need to save the oceans and waterways, the air we breathe, rainforests, whales, polar bears and other endangered animals. In that time Bob and Linda Harrington have been walking the walk, moving to an undeveloped area of British Columbia, busying themselves with an extensive reforestation project and evangelizing through books and lectures for saving our earth. Now they have published 'Testimony for Earth: A Worldview to Save the Planet and Ourselves,' their magnum opus, which encompasses all of the specific problems they and so many others have noted, but compellingly shows us that the root problem is our prevailing homocentric worldview.
In 2004, Ted Mosquin and J. Stan Rowe published their 'A Manifesto for Earth,' beautifully setting forth eleven principles which, if honored, would lead us away from the destructive, even fatal, path humankind is on. It was the challenge implicit in the 'Manifesto' that was taken up by Robert Harrington, with his wife, Linda, in this remarkable work. Breathtaking in both its breadth and its depth of detail, 'Testimony for Earth' puts flesh on the principles developed by Mosquin and Rowe.
In his introduction to 'Testimony for Earth,' Bob Harrington states, 'One of my strongest convictions is that humanity has unwittingly created a perilous situation by detaching itself from Nature, and in considering itself to be superior and the only species that is important to the universe.' In masterful fashion, Harrington identifies specific problems we have created, the consequences of our actions and the necessary courses of action we must take to save our planet and ourselves.
Harrington first noted that the worldview overwhelmingly adopted, at least by people in the west, places man in the center of things in the universe. In this homocentric view, man's welfare is the most important, the only important, consideration. He argues persuasively that an ecocentric view, which honors earth, energized by the sun, as the source and sustainer of life, is the only way to avoid irreparable harm to earth and all its inhabitants and the possible extinction of man.
After demonstrating that the ecosphere is the center of value for humanity and that the integrity, the wholeness, of earth's ecosystems is essential for sustaining balance and continued life, Harrington goes on to explain the need for greatly increased education in natural history. This education will insure that we become more conscious of our place in nature and thus behave more ethically toward our earth. Instead of our narcissistic mode of living we will come to revere and revel in the diversity of life and will, as Harrington states, 'face the simpler truth that the Earth is the common denominator for all beings. Since it is a oneness, we cannot damage it in one place without damaging the whole. It is axiomatic that if we display justice to Earth we will as a matter of necessity have to extend it to one another.'
The Harringtons present a remarkable array of examples demonstrating the incredible unity in diversity in the world around us. They use the earthworm as one example of the value of an apparently lower life form as it contributes to the richness of the soil and offers one proof of the extensive interdependence existing among all things. On the other side, they cite the great harm done by man's projects, such as great dams, often built without enough care or without sufficient reason. One of the great complications impeding our efforts to make progress in 'healing the earth' (the title of a wonderful earlier book of Bob Harrington's) is the pervasive mis-information and dis-information generated by many of our large corporations and even our government. The greatest problem of all that they present is that of over population. They contend, with great good reason, that the earth cannot sustain life with a population of six-and-a-half billion people, and growing. They warn that with an optimum population of only about one billion, our numbers must be dramatically reduced, if not by our own efforts, then by the old Malthusian trio of war, famine and pestilence. They not only bring their own knowledge and experience to bear; they cite numerous other supporting experts, lending even greater authority to their thesis.
While others have pointed to solutions such as better recycling, producing cars getting better mileage, and a host of other obviously 'doable' actions, the Harringtons insist on much more radical answers to problems that plague us, answers which will not come if we do not change our worldview away from our present narcissism to one which puts the focus truly on the ecosphere as the center of value and ourselves as a valued but interdependent part.
The overriding question we are left with is whether or not we will heed the warning the Harringtons have issued before it is too late.
The book is densely packed with information and statistics, but is saved from heaviness by Harrington's striking use of language and by a poetic quality to much of it.
For anyone concerned for our future generations, 'Testimony for Earth' is a must read.
The reviewer, Henry Carey, was a classmate of Bob Harrington who is a natuve of New London, Connecticut and a 1942 graduate of the former Bulkeley School.
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Testimony for Earth: A Worldview to Save the Planet and Ourselves,
Kootenay Bookshelf
By Barbara MacPherson
Appeared in the Arrow Lakes News Oct. 22, 2008
The only thing that makes more news today than the predicament of our beleaguered environment is the present predicament of the economy. The headlines are truly frightening. But perhaps it's all a blessing in disguise. High gas prices and a slashed personal budget, painful as they are, could bring about changes that are actually beneficial for the environment. Staying home rather than travelling, living simply, eating lower on the food chain, resisting consumerism -- these are messages that Bob Harrington preaches in his new book Testimony for Earth: A Worldview to Save the Planet and Ourselves. Ironically, the same strategies that can help us survive the dramatic downturn in the economy are the very ones that can also help save the earth.
Testimony for Earth is a disturbing read, although most of us have read or heard smatterings of these facts on the devastation of the environment. Bob Harrington puts all the facts together and spells out the problems. His overview pulls no punches and his view of governmental cowardice in dealing with the issues is scathing. The crisis in leadership is universal, not just in North America. He makes it clear that if our environmental crisis is to be solved, it will have to come from the grassroots. I definitely do not believe that politicians have the fortitude to save us from the fate we are inviting. he writes. They are too used to compromise, too subservient to industry, and too concerned with re-election...
But there is hope and that is action by all of us, becoming aware of the problem, educating younger people, changing our lifestyles. Bob Harrington knows about education. He taught for many years at Lucerne School in New Denver and his passion for teaching is evident throughout his new book Numerous examples are given of readings, discussions and assignments that could be given in school to help educate younger people on how the ecosystem operates and how they can change the perilous course we're on. But so far, the school system has not given priority to this all-important subject.
Bob had a close relationship with the late Stan Rowe of New Denver, who was an environmental ethicist and a geo-ecologist and Ted Mosquin, a specialist in Systematic and Evolution. These two scientists formulated A Manifesto for Earth, a system of eleven principles that offer positive concepts for making peace with Planet Earth. Bob and Linda based their book on these principles, elaborating on each of them. The book covers a great deal of territory, from the effects of deforestation to the perils of overpopulation. One of the main messages put forth is that we must change our view that we are the most important beings on Earth. We share this planet with other species and life forms and if we are all to survive, respect for needs other than ours has to become paramount.
It's not just the governments and corporations of the world who have responsibility. Bob's message is that each person is vital in this effort, both in demanding that governments take action, and in taking their own personal action. Bob and Linda Harrington do live what they preach, leaving as light a footprint on the earth as possible, repairing whatever damage they can. They have planted thousands of trees and scattered tree and plant seeds everywhere, among many other things. The book they co-wrote, Testimony for Earth, is a clear and inspiring guide to change we can all make, hopefully before it's too late.
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The Valley Voice
Review by Art Joyce
Oct. 8, 2008.
Harrington's new book highlights principles of A Manifesto for Earth . Ours must be the only generation in history to actually boast, I'm spending my kids' inheritance. Good planets are hard to come by, so if we want our children to have a future, we need to change our thinking from egocentric to ecocentric. It starts with a simple acknowledgement that humans are just one more organism dependent upon this Earth for survival, according to authors Bob and Linda Harrington in their latest book, Testimony for Earth. Its survival is our survival.
But the Harringtons go beyond mere self-interest as a means toward self-preservation. They incorporate the 11 principles of the Manifesto for Earth developed by New Denver ecologist Dr. Stan Rowe and Dr. Ted Mosquin in Rowe's book Earth Alive. The Harringtons explain that our entire economy is underwritten by the process of photosynthesis, which produces everything from the plants that make the fossil fuels we so carelessly burn to the food that sustains us. This is in harmony with the First Principle of the Manifesto: the ecosphere is the centre of value for humanity. Former World Bank economist Sir Nicholas Stern, in a report on the economic impact of climate change, referred to the 'business as usual' policy as the economics of genocide.
The Harringtons adopt Rowe's view of the destructive effect of the world views often promoted by the major religions, that Earth is in effect our treasure chest to plunder at will. Falsely placing humans at the top of the food chain has led to the shortsighted economic policies that have created the unprecedented environmental crises we now face. Harrington argues for an Earth-centered spirituality that could start simply, by teaching our children to include 'Earth' as part of their home address. Life in its multitude of forms is essentially bottled sunshine, and the awareness that Earth is a living entity, the source of our existence, would make it less likely we would support anything that damages it in the long term. Such a world view would acknowledge, as the poet Alexander Pope wrote, All are but parts of one stupendous whole / Whose body Nature is and God the soul. Stan Rowe emphasized the critical importance of teaching such a value system in public education. The Harringtons point out that, getting kids interested in a world greater than themselves can actually be fun.
Six of the 11 Manifesto points are core principles that emphasize the scientific basis for this proposed worldview. The other five are action points, including defend and preserve Earth's creative potential, reduce human population, reduce consumption, promote ecocentric governance, and spread the message. This is especially critical now as both Canada and the US face national elections. The Harringtons blame business and political leaders for putting economy ahead of ecology and calls for a leader with the courage of US President FD Roosevelt. When the country was drawn into World War II, he immediately imposed rationing of gasoline and other basic commodities and banned the sale of private cars to help with the war effort. Climatologists are arguing that we face a far greater emergency than a war. Voting for a president or prime minister with a strong environmental policy now could determine what chance our children and grandchildren have in an Earth vastly changed.
Testimony for Earth has garnered praise from the late Colleen McCrory, and the Harrington's book The Soul Solution has recently been reprinted with an introduction by David Suzuki. At times the Harringtons seem to be 'preaching to the choir' and risk alienating readers new to the concept of ecocentricity by reminding us often how truly suicidal our actions have been. Still, the authors live the simple life they preach, and this fresh look at Rowe and Mosquin's Earth Manifesto is well informed by wide-ranging readings in biology, philosophy, economics and personal experience. Testimony for Earth is another book that will come to be required reading for those seeking clear ideas for positive change to improve our species' outlook.
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The CCPA Monitor
Review by Ed Finn Senior Editor
October 2008
Testimony for Earth is an indispensable blueprint for humankind's survival. In a world that has been plunged into chaos and crisis by he unthinking folly of business and political leaders, the Harringtons' new book...comes as a welcome and urgently needed corrective. Drawing on many years of communing with Nature, and observing the plundering and pollution of the planet, Bob and Linda offer a clear prescription for replacing economic madness with ecological sanity.
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The CCPA Monitor
Review by Roy LaBerge book reviewer and editor
October 2008
To save ourselves, we must put Earth's needs before ours . Bob Harrington wrote Testimony for Earth, in association with his spouse, Linda Harrington, to try to reach into the thoughts of readers and convince them that they must give the needs of our planet priority over our own wants.
He describes Testimony for Earth as a manual to guide wise and respectful beings toward a harmonious, mutualistic future on the planet.
This manual is founded on principles put forward in a scientific article titled A Manifesto for Earth, first published in the January'March 2004 issue of Biodiversity: Journal of Life on Earth. The article was written by the late Dr. Stan Rose, professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, and Dr. Ted Mosquin, a specialist in systematics and evolution.
Rooted in ecology, the manifesto offers six core principles and five action principles. Harrington contends that these principles, if followed, would move humankind toward a respectful and compatible relationship with Planet Earth and the multiple other organisms with which we share this life.
The core principles:
-The ecosphere is the centre of value for humanity.
-The creativity and productivity of Earth's ecosystems depend on their integrity.
-The Earth-centered worldview is supported by natural history.
-Ecocentric ethics are grounded in awareness of our place in Nature.
-An ecocentric worldview values diversity of ecosystems and cultures.
-Ecocentric ethics support social justice.
The action principles:
-Defend and preserve Earth's creative potential.
-Reduce human population size.
-Reduce human consumption of Earth parts.
-Promote ecocentric governance.
-Spread the message.
Harrington believes strongly that the manifesto's ideas are not merely useful, but are direly needed. He hopes to spread the message so widely that the idea of ecology as a taproot for social structure, for the economy, for education, and for survival on Earth will become the realistic conviction of enough people to make a difference...
Our present commitment--giving the economy top priority in our lives--is steadily degrading the Earth.
The full text of the manifesto is included in Testimony for Earth, in which Harrington expands on the core values and action principles, and gives examples to encourage a more sustainable worldview than that currently held.
The author finds support for his writings in the works of several score authorities from a wide range of disciplines and periods of history, ranging from Hippocrates and Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, and Buckminster Fuller, among many, many others. An analytical index is provided.
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The Arrow Lakes News
Oct 8, 2008
By Keith Powell
Profile of Authors:
A lot of people constantly ponder what they could do every day to make the world a better place to be. Authors Bob and Linda Harrington take this task into their own hands by giving back by educating through their books and by leaving as little a footprint on the earth as possible.
We don't really believe in travelling because of global warming, says Linda. We've purposefully cut our mileage down to 6,000 km a year.
Bob really started to write books after he retired as principal of the school in New Denver in the '80s, Linda says to date it is Bob's sixth book. They work together on the research but Bob does most of the writing and Linda works mainly on research and editing.
Having finished writing their newest book, Testimony For Earth, earlier this year, Hancock House published it at the same time that their last book, A Soul Solution, was re-issued because it was sold out. The reprint of A Soul Solution has included a foreword written by David Suzuki talking about the importance of the values that the book brings to light.
Meanwhile, Testimony For Earth, which Linda says has been four or five years in the making, has a short book review contributed from the late environmental activist Colleen McCrory which reads:
Everyone should read Harringtons' Testimony for Earth. This book is a compelling guide and a call to action for everyone to make necessary changes to restore and protect the earth. Bob combines his experience as a conservationist, philosopher and educator to give us well-thought-out solutions to make our planet healthy again. Our life values must also change to include respect for all things, live more deeply, and recognize we are connected to everything on earth.
Linda says Bob decided to write the book based on an article called Manifesto For Earth. It was written by J. Stan Rowe, a professor of plant ecology at the University of Saskatchewan and geo-ecologist who passed away in 2004, and Ted Mosquin, a university professor, research scientist and author of many books and scientific articles based on systematics, ecology and natural history.
On his death bed, Stan said to his partner that he'd hoped it [Manifesto For Earth] would get legs, and so Bob decided to write a book around the Manifesto using each one of the principals as a chapter in the book, says Linda.
Bob is an experienced writer. In the '70s he completed about 200 scripts for CBC radio which were broadcast once a week for four years on the Radio Noon show with focus on agriculture and resource issues. These scripts were also printed in the Arrow Lakes News under the column title 'It's Your World.'
Not only a writer and educator, Bob is a veteran of WWII and holds a degree in geology. His experiences in the world also include working as a prospector, as a geologist on dam construction, on the USS Nautilus during its construction and teaching secondary school and university ecology.
His passion for this kind of research, work and lifestyle of living spawned from when he worked with the United States Department of Agriculture supervising pesticide spray operations. His work led him to study ecology and his interest and knowledge grew as he began realizing the harm which is being done to the planet.
One thing that never changed was Bob and Linda's feelings towards nature the importance of the earth.
We've both been very connected since we've been kids, says Linda. She says Bob would walk for miles through forest to go to a fishing pond. When she skipped a class in school, it wasn't to go hang out downtown Nelson, where she grew up, it was to go for a walk in the woods and to enjoy nature.
They live on an 80-acre lot which was selectively logged before they bought it. Linda says they are always planting trees whenever they go on a hike so as to reduce their own carbon print and that they are always giving out small potted trees to people who visit them.
Our idea is we're just stewards, looking after the trees that are here and to try and wait until sanity arrives, says Linda. People keep their little lawns, 50 by 120, as neat as a pin. Mow it, trim their hedges and flowers, but the greater world around them, they don't pay attention to it, by and large.
As to how Bob and Linda's connection with nature intertwines with their lives, Linda says it's not something you 'keep' or hold on to, it's something that has a hold of you, it's not something that's voluntary.
It's a connection that's there, that's spiritual, says Linda. You can see it everywhere, in everything you do. It's not just here on our property. It's walking on the boardwalk in Nakusp and listening to the loons and looking at the beautiful flowers that have been planted there.
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Praise for Testimony for Earth
Everyone should read Harringtons' Testimony for Earth. This book is a compelling guide and a call to action for everyone to make necessary changes to restore and protect the earth. Bob combines his experience as a conservationist, philosopher and educator to give us well-thought-out solutions to make our planet healthy again. Our life values must also change to include respect for all things, live more deeply, and recognize we are connected to everything on earth.
Colleen McCrory, winner:
1992 UN Global 500 Roll of Honour
1992 Goldman Environmental Prize for North America
1993 Governor-General's Conservation Award
Long time naturalist Bob Harrington joins the tiny handful of deep green ecocentric writers who offer an alternative to the destructive ideology of our age - the inward looking, unshakable worldview that our species is more important than anything else on the planet and that we have a right to rape and pillage nature at will. The book's foundation rests largely on the eleven principles of the recently published Manifesto for Earth, a deepest green secular worldview born of ecological understanding of humanity's place in nature. The author brings his own stories and a personal spiritual dimension to his interpretation of the manifesto's unifying principles whose goal is the restoration of earth's diversity and beauty.
Dr. Ted Mosquin, co-author of A Manifesto for Earth
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